CAS Valentine

At most of our classes, Lou and I offer 3 cards or projects.

This is the final card from Lou's February Men's Night Out.

This clean and simple design introduced his class to a new technique:  inking stamps with markers.  Ink, huff, stamp, assemble, done -- the kind of simplicity many stampers enjoy in their card making.

Added bonus:  the participants were delighted that they didn't have to run to a big box store and hunt through racks of mass-produced Valentines, but could proudly say to their honey, "I made this for you".  Proud moments for all.

Hearts Abounding

Lou loves variety in his card making.  This is one of his cards done with his February Men's Night Out stamping class.

Details make this card a winner:
* masked and sponged cascading hearts
* classic color combo
* textural elements: Candy Dots, marker outlined heart, dimensionals and sweet paper ribbon

It's a winner in my book!

One-of-a-Kind

My husband Lou is not only my supporting demonstrator, he is a stamper in his own right.  Recently, he started offering a monthly class for men only.  Over the next few days, I will be sharing some of his newest cards.

This is an updated version of a card Lou CASEd a while back from "Stampin' Success", a magazine for Stampin' Up! demonstrators.

Don't you just love the mix of textures, colors and shapes?
Sophisticated enough for an experienced stamper, yet simple enough for the neophyte.  This versatile card design is perfect for a wide variety of occasions and recipients.

 Hats off for the hubbie!

Fun with Friends

I love getting together with friends for a night of open crafting.  Last week proved to be no exception.  Five  of my hostess club members came for a "freebie" night to work on personal projects.

Deb has volunteered to create wedding shower invitations for a friend.  The theme is "To the moon and back" with silver and navy for her colors.   Deb fashioned the dress following a tutorial she found online.  From there we developed a card sketch and the details just seemed to fall in place.  All present declared it a success!

Linda needed a card for a guy friend who is a football fan.  Pulling out a retired set from long ago and suggesting a possible card sketch was all she needed, and Linda was on her way to making her own work of art!

Meanwhile Pat worked on Christmas cards (!), Karen put the Big Shot to good use, Teresa shared some of the cards she's been working on.

All to soon the evening came to a close (the time just flew by!).  We all had such a good relaxed time with each other, we are going to do a similar get-together on the 5th Friday of March.

And THAT is why I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I love our products and think they are the best in the industry, hands-down.  I enjoy the financial benefits as well.  But it is the relationships that have developed as a result of signing up 6 years ago that are most precious to me.  I love each of my ladies, and thank the Lord for bringing them into my life.

After a 6 month hiatus, I think I am ready to start blogging again.  Mind you I have not been a slacker during this time, but sometimes what we plan gets interrupted with more immediate needs.  There have been highs, there have been lows.  But through it all, we have hope because Christ Jesus is our Lord and Savior.

Today's card uses a favorite new stamp set from the 2015 Occasions Catalog  "Sheltering Tree".
Easy, versatile, truly a stamp set for all seasons.

Here I have created a quick and easy 1 layer card using the first 2 techniques I ever learned:  heat embossing and sponging.    I love the look.

It has snowed here 2 of the last 3 days.  Both times friends have come to help dig us out.  What's been happening in your neck of the woods?

(Sheltering Tree set, Very Vanilla CS, Whisper White Craft ink, White embossing powder, Heat tool, Smoky Slate, Marina Mist, Soft Sky classic stampin' pads, sponges)